986 S questions

[jmsgld]

Been looking for a cheap 986 S for a little while, there's a very local one that I hadn't bothered looking at as it was overpriced. However it has just been reduced and now looks appealing.

Looking at the previous MOT history it failed in August last year for excessive corrosion of all brake pipes + other things and then passed 3 miles and 6 days later. I am hoping that this was as a result of the work being done but concerned it may be an unscrupulous dealer / tame MOT tester.

Presumably I can just look at where the pipes come into the calipers and they should be all nice and new looking? Or do they corrode somewhere less accessible?

I has also had an engine management light on in 2008 and 12, should that ring alarm bells? Reg LF51 OMW

£4750 at 111k with factory hardtop in my preferred lapis blue with correct wheels and fried eggs...

Thanks, James

[jmsgld]

Thanks for the info.
I can't imagine that that will be the only fault and fully expect to spend some money getting any £5k Boxster up to scratch, but doesn't sound like the end of the world either way...
Interesting... hopefully will have a new toy by this time tomorrow.

[jmsgld]

"Brake pipe excessively corroded frount to rear (3.6.B.2c)"

Does this imply that the covers were not in place and it's the tricky ones that need replacing?

(nearside rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
offside rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Brake pipe excessively corroded frount to rear (3.6.B.2c)
nearside front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)
offside front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c))

[jmsgld]

I am fully expecting to have a list of things to get done. It's a question of value, my budget was £6-8K, it will be a daily driver once I'm happy with it. The more I spend on the car then the less is left in the pot for getting it sorted. TBH I would expect to need to spend money on refreshing the suspension and brakes on the majority of cars in the price range.

I like the spec of the car and the hardtop is a nice bonus and from the photos at least it looks very presentable. The pre-facelift 986 S is my preferred choice in the budget.

[jmsgld]

So I went to see it, seems to drive pretty well for the age / miles.
A decent wadge of history but missing a few years. The history is a bit budget, both offside coil springs broken at different points and both replaced individually rather than pairs. Receipts for engine lights - MAF sensor and something else... regular oil etc.

The 2nd MOT was carried out at the same test center which suggests that the work has been done though no receipt, apparently they squashed the AC pipes whilst jacking so those too have been replaced along with condensers... The pipes didn't look new, but did look clean so suspect 2nd hand parts used.

Wanted to get my mechanic to have it up on the ramp and have a look but the seller won't agree to that which is a little concerning.

It is cheap though, £4200 without the hard top, £4750 with it... but by the time it's sorted I think I am going to wish I had got a lower miles car sorted...

Think I'll keep looking.

[jmsgld]

Yeah, fair enough, I hadn't thought about it like that. I know my mechanic is very good and maintains his own porsche, but to the vendor he could be any muppet.

He seemed like a decent bloke.

Here's a link to the ad, I think it is probably quite good value for anyone after some seriously budget pork.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-BOXSTER-S-3-2-NO...